Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Set For Final England Tour In 2026 Ahead Of ODI World Cup 2027

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are preparing for what is expected to be their final tour of England, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has revised its strategy in the lead-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup. The announcement came on Thursday, even as the current Test series between India and England is underway - a series both senior players are absent from, having retired from red-ball cricket just weeks before it began.

As part of India's revamped preparations, a white-ball tour of England has been scheduled for July 2026. The team will play five T20 Internationals (T20Is) from July 1 to 11, followed by a three-match ODI series between July 14 and 19, across venues in Birmingham, Cardiff, and London.

This tour marks India's second-last overseas ODI series before the 2027 World Cup, to be held in South Africa. In total, India - the current Champions Trophy holders - is slated to play 24 ODIs in the buildup to the ICC showpiece, starting with a three-match series in Australia in October 2025.

India's 2026 White-Ball Tour of England - Full Schedule:
T20I Series:

• July 1 - 1st T20I at Banks Homes Riverside, Durham
• July 4 - 2nd T20I at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
• July 7 - 3rd T20I at Trent Bridge, Nottingham
• July 9 - 4th T20I at Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol
• July 11 - 5th T20I at Utilita Bowl, Southampton
• ODI Series:
• July 14 - 1st ODI at Edgbaston, Birmingham
• July 16 - 2nd ODI at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
• July 19 - 3rd ODI at Lord's, London

In addition to the men's series, England's 2026 international summer will feature a multi-format series against the Indian women's team. That tour kicks off with three ODIs - the first on May 28 in Chelmsford, followed by May 30 in Bristol, and June 2 in Taunton. The women's tour will also include a historic one-off Test match at Lord's, a venue steeped in cricketing tradition.

Meanwhile, the Ben Stokes-led England men's Test squad is scheduled to host New Zealand and Pakistan for two Rothesay Test series. In white-ball cricket, Harry Brook's England team will take on Sri Lanka and India in ODIs and T20Is.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) expressed great excitement for the summer of 2026. CEO Richard Gould said, "We're thrilled to unveil what promises to be a spectacular summer of international cricket in 2026. With world-class opposition at iconic venues across the country, fans will get to experience the very best of both men's and women's cricket."

Highlighting the summer calendar, Gould noted, "The ICC Women's T20 World Cup, being hosted in England for the first time since 2009, will be a landmark moment. For Nat Sciver-Brunt and the women's team, this is a unique opportunity to inspire the next generation. Following that, Lord's will host its first-ever Women's Test match, making it a historic season for the sport."